BOY SCOUT TROOP 303

This year looks to be an eventful year for the Boy Scouts of Troop 303.  We started off the year with a total of 26 scouts, which included seven first year scouts.  At our Court of Honor, which was held on October 8, all seven of our new scouts were awarded the rank of Tenderfoot.  Several other scouts were awarded achievements of rank.  In addition, all the boys that completed merit badges over the summer were awarded their badges.  It was evident by all the badges of rank and merit badges that were given out at the Court of Honor that the scouts of Troop 303 have been working very hard over the summer.

The weekend of October 15 was a great weekend for the scouts of Troop 303.  All 26 boys spent a memorable weekend camping at Broad Creek.  Thankful for the wonderful weather, the boys spent their days hiking and their nights sleeping in tents.  On Saturday, the troop was split into two groups.  One group consisted of all the older, experienced scouts and the second group was made up of all first and second year scouts.  Our older scouts headed off on a 15 mile hike, while the younger scouts, most of whom had very little hiking experience, headed off on a 10 mile hike.  The terrain on the trails was rough for both groups due to the recent tropical storms that Maryland had experienced; however, both groups were able to complete their hikes within the allotted time and without any serious injuries.  Hiking wasn't the only skill that the boys worked on over the weekend, the boys also worked on their cooking skills.  Each patrol, which consists of 5 to 6 boys, was responsible for preparing the food for their fellow scouts.  For many of the boys, this was their first experience in cooking outdoors. I am glad to report that all the scouts returned home well nourished and proud of their accomplishments. The troop's next camping trip is scheduled for November.

Looking ahead, the scouts of Troop 303 are looking forward to going camping, a possible caving trip in the spring, and a two week canoe trip in the Adirondack's for the older scouts.  The troop is also planning to award several of their older scouts this year with the highest rank of achievement in scouting--"Eagle Scout".  The year 2000 looks to bring an active and adventurous scouting experience for all the scouts and leaders of Troop 303.

CUB SCOUTING

Fall is a busy time for everyone and especially for the Cubs.  Two Recruitment Nights were held in September and over 20 new scouts were recruited.

Doughnuts were the order of the day when the Cubs had a tour of Krispy Kreme.  Every scout received a sample and was able to help "make" the doughnuts.  The staff at Krispy Kreme were extremely friendly to our group and everyone had a "sweet" time.

The Annual Popcorn Sale went very well.  Cubs sold popcorn individually and outside of church before and after Mass the weekends of October 2-3 and October 9-10.  Over $1,000 was raised by the pack.  Over 50 percent of all the sales goes back to the scouts.  Thank you to Father Richard and all of the parishioners who supported our scouts.

Webeloes II attended their Camporee at Broad Creek Memorial Scout Reservation in Whiteford, Maryland the weekend of October 8-10.  The Camporee is one of the highlights of Cub Scouting.  The Cubs earn beads for performing activities at various "stations" including tying knots, performing first aid, identifying poisonous plants, etc.  They also received beads for team spirit and performing their den yell and song, etc.  Scouts were responsible for putting up their tents, cooking, and cleaning up all weekend.  Parents who accompanied their Cubs were not left out and were kept just as busy.  They competed against the other "Parent Patrols" by performing activities out of the scout book.  They were timed performing such tasks as putting up a canvas dining canopy, building a fire, and making a stretcher and carrying a "victim" around an obstacle course.  Our "Parent Patrol" scored in the top five patrols!  The Camporee was a weekend that won't be forgotten!

October 23 was a perfect fall day for an outing to Maple Leaf Farms in Pennsylvania.  Cubs hiked their way through a Safari Maze, looking for clues and stamps to create a "map" of the maze.  For the less adventurous, there was a smaller hay maze to play in.  After exploring the maze in the cool fall weather, there was hot chocolate and cider to warm everyone.

For anyone who ever wondered how those colorful "embroidered emblems" that the Cubs earn are made, a trip to Lion Brothers in Owings Mills on November 12 provided the answer.

The Cubs will get ready for the holidays with a Christmas Party on December 7.  There will be pizza, candy canes, and gifts.  The true spirit of Christmas will be celebrated with a canned goods collection and a mitten tree.

The Cub Scouts wish everyone a Very Happy and Safe Christmas and New Year.  We would also like to thank everyone in the parish for their wonderful support all through the year!

BROWNIE TROOP 710

Troop 710 started the year off with 12 returning girls.  Since then we have added 13 more girls to the troop.  This gives the troop a grand total of 25 very active girls.  The girls of Troop 710 range in ages from kindergarten to third grade.

This year the leaders of the troop decided to try something new.  We decided to split the girls into patrols of 6 to 7 girls.  Each patrol has a leader and an assistant.  These girls are responsible for taking attendance, collecting the girls' weekly quarter donation for Family Share, handing out flyers, and leading the girls in all activities that we participate in.  Our hope is to teach the girls leadership skills, as well as, team building skills.  The girls so far seem to be thriving with our new patrol system.

The troop started off the year teaching our new members the Girl Scout Ways.  They learned the Girl Scout law and promise, the Girl Scout sign and handshake, and the Brownie Smile Song.  In addition, they learned about friendship circles, Girl Scout squeeze, and how to play "Girl Scout Out".  Of course no Girl Scout experience can be complete without making your very own sit-upon.  All our new friends were anxious and eager to learn the "Girl Scout Ways".

After making our new Brownies feel a part of the troop, we began to work on the Girl Scout try-it "Puppets, Dolls, and Plays".  Each of the girls made a yarn doll, finger puppet, and a marionette.  In their patrols, each group designed a puppet stage, and created a play using their puppets that they would perform at our first "Court of Awards".

In addition to working on Girl Scout badges, the girls of Troop 710 went on several trips.  Our first outing was to join our fellow Girl Scouts at the Perry Hall roller rink for an afternoon of fun on skates.  Our next adventure took us to Krispy Kreme.  The manager at Krispy Kreme took the girls of Troop 710 on a tour of the facilities and a chance to decorate their very own doughnut.  Finally, we joined our friends of Cub Scout Pack 303 on a trip to the Corn Maze in Pennsylvania.  All the scouts and their parents had an exciting time searching for clues and passages to the exit of the maze. We are glad to report that none of our scouts were lost and neither were any of our parents.

Girl Scouts means cookies, and the girls of Troop 710 look forward to selling cookies every year.  At the beginning of the sale, the girls set a goal to sell 200 boxes of cookies to celebrate the year 2000.  We are pleased to report that the troop not only reached its goal, but exceeded it with flying colors.  The troop relies on cookies to raise the necessary money for the girls to go on trips, earn badges, buy art and craft supplies, and of course, go camping.  The girls of Troop 710 would like to thank St. Clement and all the parishioners for their wonderful support.

The girls of Brownie Troop 710 have exciting plans for the upcoming year.  November brings the beginning of the Christmas season.  To help St. Clement, the girls will be donating a craft to be sold at Santa's Workshop.  The girls will also be working on Christmas presents for their parents, making musical instruments, and celebrating the Christmas season at our Annual Christmas Party.  After the holidays, the year 2000 will bring a sleep over at St. Clement, an all night bowling adventure, a Thinking Day celebration, ice skating, and a weekend camping trip.  The girls and leaders of Troop 710 look forward to an adventurous and exciting year to come.